Several days had passed since Brandon finished reading The Book of Power. He had absorbed every word, his mind oscilting between eager anticipation and lingering doubt. The book had offered no concrete answers, only a collection of accounts detailing various awakenings—some remarkable, others disappointingly trivial. To Brandon, much of it had read like mere parlor tricks.

  According to the records, an awakening was not a dramatic transformation. It began subtly, like a seedling breaking through the earth, fragile yet full of potential. A fme conjured by an awakening could barely rival that of a candle; a gust of wind might do little more than ruffle the hair of a nearby observer. Mastery required repetition, understanding, and will.

  Beyond the mystical abilities, an awakening also strengthened the body—faster reflexes, heightened endurance, and keener perception. This was a practical gift, one that led most noble houses to push their awakened members toward martial training rather than the study of their abilities. Only a rare few possessed abilities so potent that they overshadowed conventional combat skills. Those individuals were coveted, trained, and molded into legends.

  But there was an odd rule buried in the text: abilities rarely worked on others who had awakened. Rather than domination, cshes between the awakened resembled contests of endurance, the stronger will prevailing only when the other was depleted.

  Brandon sighed and set the book aside, rubbing his temples. His thoughts were a tangled mess. Was he truly on the verge of an awakening? Or was he simply chasing illusions?

  He reached down and lifted Mittens, the ever-present shadow at his side. Holding her up, he studied her golden eyes. "What do you think, Mittens? What kind of power will I awaken?"

  The lynx-like kitten blinked slowly, unimpressed.

  Brandon chuckled and gave her a small shake. "Wrong answer. Try again."

  Mittens yawned, her tiny fangs fshing, then wriggled in his grip. Suddenly, a faint pop sounded, and in an instant, she was gone. Brandon’s hands clenched around empty air.

  His breath caught. He turned sharply, his heart pounding. Mittens was sitting on the ground a few feet away, her fur slightly puffed, ears flicking as if she, too, was startled.

  For a long moment, neither of them moved.

  Brandon’s mind raced. Had he imagined it? No—the distance was too great for her to have leapt unseen. It had happened.

  A slow, dawning realization settled over him.

  But before he could process it fully, the door to his room creaked open. A maid had been tasked with keeping an eye on him and had just witnessed the entire scene. Her eyes widened in shock before she quickly turned and fled.

  Moments ter, chaos descended upon the castle.

  By the time Brandon regained his senses, his room was filled with people—his parents, his siblings, curious servants peering from the hallway. His father’s sharp gaze locked onto him, searching, assessing.

  "I…" Brandon started, then hesitated. Finally, he lifted Mittens again, shaking her lightly. "Watch closely."

  Mittens stared at him with her usual unimpressed expression. Brandon shook her again. Nothing happened.

  Silence filled the room. Then, his eldest sister sighed dramatically. "Idiot."

  A flicker of irritation crossed Brandon’s face. He knew what he had seen. He knew what had happened. But standing before an audience, nothing seemed to go as expected.

  His mother offered him an encouraging smile. "I believe you, dear."

  That only made it worse. The pcating tone, the gentle indulgence—she was humoring him.

  Brandon’s frustration fred. Years of quiet endurance, of being underestimated and dismissed, boiled over. He clutched Mittens tighter, his voice rising. "I am telling the truth! Watch closely!"

  His emotions surged, and at that moment, Mittens let out a startled yowl. Another pop echoed through the air, and she vanished once more—reappearing several feet away, fur bristling in agitation.

  The room fell into stunned silence.

  Mittens arched her back and hissed, her golden eyes darting between Brandon and the assembled spectators. For the first time, everyone saw it. There was no denying it now.

  Brandon exhaled slowly. His awakening had begun.